This simple meatball recipe makes the best baked meatballs that can also be frozen. You can make them ahead of time and then just add them to a big plate of noodles and spaghetti sauce for a quick and tasty dinner that everyone will love.
Here’s an easy meatball recipe that will make you feel good and give your taste buds a treat! These meatballs can be used in many ways and are always a hit, so they’re great for a family meal, a potluck, or a fancy dinner party. Also, it doesn’t take long to make—just mix everything together in a big bowl, roll it into balls, and bake!
Making 3 pounds of meatballs is the same amount of work as making 1 pound of meatballs. So plan ahead and you’ll have a tasty meal ready in no time! If you want to try another tasty recipe, try my venison meatballs or this easy meatloaf recipe! And of course, this recipe is always a hit when topped with spaghetti sauce.
This recipe was found in the little recipe box I received for our wedding. It’s been my go-to meatball recipe ever since.
Meatballs are a versatile and tasty way to use ground beef They can be served as appetizers, in pastas, on pizzas, in soups – the possibilities are endless! But when making meatballs, one question always comes up – how many can you make with a pound of ground beef? Let’s take a detailed look at the meatball math
The Simple Scoop Method
One easy way to portion meatballs is using a small scoop, around 1-2 tablespoons in size. Here is a simple technique:
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Take the scoop and dig into the bowl of ground beef. Run your fingers around the edges to knock off any extra meat.
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Dump the scooped meat into your hand and quickly roll it into a ball
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Place on a baking sheet and continue scooping and rolling until all the beef is used up
Using this basic method, you can expect to get 24-30 meatballs per pound of ground beef. It provides a fast, consistent way to shape meatballs without obsessively weighing each one.
The exact count will vary a bit based on:
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Scoop size – Larger scoops will produce fewer meatballs.
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Beef consistency – Fattier beef may roll into slightly smaller balls.
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Compaction – How tightly you pack each ball affects the size.
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Shrinkage – Meatballs shrink slightly when cooked.
But for simplicity, estimate around 28 per pound when using the small scoop method.
Recipes and Meatball Sizes
The number of meatballs per pound also depends on the size you make them. Recipes usually specify:
- Large – 2 inch diameter, makes 12-16 per pound
- Medium – 1.5 inch, makes 18-24
- Small – 1 inch, makes 28-36
So target the desired size when rolling them. If a recipe doesn’t list a size, medium 1.5 inch balls are a safe bet.
Here are some common meatball uses and typical sizes:
- Appetizers – go small, around 1 inch
- Sandwiches – small or medium works
- Pasta – medium size is ideal
- Soup – large 2 inch for hearty texture
Again, this varies by preference, but start with those guidelines based on the serving method.
Factors That Impact Yield
Aside from meatball size, a few other factors influence the number per pound:
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Fat content – Fattier beef results in slightly smaller balls. Can increase count by a few.
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Mix-ins – Ingredients like breadcrumbs or cheese add bulk and decrease yield.
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Cooking method – Pan-fried meatballs may plump up more than baked.
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Food scale – For greatest accuracy, weigh balls and aim for a set size.
While small variances occur, the general range is 24-36 meatballs depending on the desired size. Recipe directions usually provide a ballpark estimate too.
Meatball Calculator
For the most precise estimate, use an online meatball calculator. Here’s how it works:
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Enter the quantity of ground beef.
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Input the desired raw meatball size.
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Add any other ingredients included in the recipe such as breadcrumbs, eggs, etc.
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The calculator estimates the total number of meatballs.
This accounts for the specific recipe components and yields the most accurate result. Give it a try before your next meatball making session to dial in the right meatball count.
Sample Recipes and Yields
To give a sense of typical yields, here are some popular meatball recipes and the serving count produced per pound of ground beef:
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Classic Beef Meatballs – 1.5 inch balls, approx 24 per pound
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Italian-Style – Made with pork and veal, approx 30 per pound
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Swedish Meatballs – Includes cream, yields 22 per pound
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Baked Chicken Meatballs – Uses ground chicken, makes 35 per pound
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Asian Pork – Flavored with ginger and sesame oil, about 28 per pound
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Southwestern Beef – With corn, cilantro and spices, around 24 per pound
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Cocktail Size – Mini 1-inch meatballs, 36 per pound
Tips for Cooking Meatballs
Once you’ve shaped the meatballs, here are some tips for cooking:
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Pan fry – Cook in batches. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry until browned.
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Baked – Spread on a sheet pan. Bake at 375°F for 18-22 minutes.
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Simmer – Gently simmer in sauce for 5-10 minutes until cooked through.
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Grill – Use skewers to grill meatballs for great flavor. Cook to internal temp of 160°F.
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Air Fry – Spray with oil, air fry at 390°F for 10-15 minutes, shake halfway.
No matter which cooking method you choose, meatballs made from a pound of ground beef will give you a hearty batch to use in lots of delicious recipes.
Get Creative with Meatball Shapes
Round balls aren’t your only option when shaping meatballs. Consider making:
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Patties – Simply form flat, round discs. Estimate 4-6 per pound.
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Sliders – Shape into mini burger patties. Make 8-12 per pound.
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Kabobs – Mold meatballs around a skewer for easy grilling.
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Oval – Roll into an egg shape for something different.
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Square – For a retro look, pat into square shapes.
So explore different shapes and sizes for fun variety. Just adjust the quantity accordingly if following a recipe.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This meatball recipe is very simple and only needs a few things. The main ingredient is ground beef. Because it doesn’t take long to prepare and bake, it’s a great choice for a quick dinner during the week.
- Pantry Ingredients: You don’t need to have fresh ingredients on hand for this recipe. You only need milk, breadcrumbs, ground beef, and different spices from your cabinet. So you can still follow this recipe even if your cupboard doesn’t seem to have anything in it.
- Freezer-Friendly: These meatballs are great for freezer cooking. This recipe is a great place to start if you want to start making meals ahead of time. Make a lot of them, freeze them, and you’ll always have a meal ready to go on busy days.
- Versatile: This meatball recipe is incredibly versatile. You can serve these soft meatballs as a starter with your favorite sauce, or you can make a hearty meal with spaghetti and marinara sauce. You can even put them in meatball soups or subs.
- Ground beef: Our meatball recipes depend on ground beef, which gives them a hearty flavor and a soft texture. By having more fat, it makes sure that the meatballs stay juicy and tasty.
- The Italian breadcrumbs not only help hold the meat mixture together, but they also give it a light Italian flavor.
- Nutmeg: A little nutmeg gives the meatballs a warm, nutty flavor that makes them taste better. They make a great appetizer, especially when served with a smoky sauce.
- Dried minced onion: The minced onion gives the meatballs a savory depth and adds to the overall flavor.
- Garlic powder: Garlic powder gives the meatballs a strong, fragrant note that goes well with the other ingredients.
- Milk: Milk makes the breadcrumbs moist, which makes sure the meatballs are tender and not dry. Another thing it does is help the meatballs taste rich and creamy.
- Large Bowl—You’ll need a big bowl to mix everything together. This will help make sure that the breadcrumbs, seasonings, and ground beef are spread out evenly in the meat mixture.
- Baking Pan—To bake the meatballs in the oven with this recipe, you need a baking pan. Also, make sure the pan is big enough so that the meatballs don’t touch.
Step 2 – Form the Meatballs
Using your hands, shape the meat mixture into 1 1/2 to 2 inch balls. You can also use a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to get uniform meatballs. This size is perfect for most meatball recipes, like meatball soup, meatball subs, or spaghetti and meatballs.
If You have 1lb of ground beef, make these.. Easiest Meatballs with simple ingredients.
FAQ
How many meatballs per pound?
How many pounds of meatballs do I need for 5 people?
What is the best size for meatballs?
How many meatballs in a pound of beef?
With this big batch beef meatball recipe, I usually get about 125 1-inch meatballs. ( Yes, I counted them! And not just once.) A pound of ground beef will make roughly 30 medium-size (1-inch) meatballs. How many meatballs per person? Since these meatballs are smaller size (1-inch balls), I serve 7-8 meatballs per person.
How many meatballs will a recipe make?
The number of meatballs a given recipe will yield varies according to the size of the balls you shape and the amount of meat, egg, breadcrumbs, liquid, and other ingredients. This quick and simple meatball calculator allows you to approximate how many meatballs a recipe will make and compare the yield of different recipes.
How many meatballs can you make with raw meat?
As such, the diameter of the cooked meatballs will be lower than that of the raw meatballs. It is possible to make between 25 and 30 one-inch meatballs for every cup of raw meat. You may also be interested in our Cooking Measurement Conversion Calculator or Pizza Calculator
How do you make meatballs?
Ground beef and pork: I like to use a 50/50 mix of the two to make meatballs, but you can also make all-beef or all-pork meatballs if you prefer. Fresh garlic: Minced or pressed. Eggs: Which will help to bind all of our meatball ingredients together.